Frequently Asked Questions

Mind-body medicine sees our bodies, emotions, thoughts, spirituality, and environment as interconnected, influencing our health and well-being. It's personalized and emphasizes self-care to prevent or treat health issues. Techniques are taught for daily use to improve overall well-being.

Biomedicine, allopathic medicine, and traditional addiction treatments are effective but may not address all aspects of preventing or managing ongoing health issues or understanding oneself better.

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Biomedicine mainly uses medications or medical devices under a doctor's guidance.

Traditional addiction programs often rely on cognitive techniques within a supportive community, which may not fully address addiction's deeper brain impacts.

Mind-body medicine (MBM) takes a different approach to addiction recovery, combining techniques targeting deeper brain areas to establish new pathways and habits for long-term wellness beyond just overcoming addiction.

Mind-body medicine-based recovery is a program focused on educating adults. You can take part in it either one-on-one or in a supportive group setting. This program works alongside other treatments or recovery programs you might be involved in.

It's important to know that mind-body medicine-based recovery isn't meant to replace medical diagnosis and treatment. Before joining the program, we might ask you to talk to your doctor to make sure it's suitable for you.

You can learn and practice mind-body medicine techniques while receiving traditional medical care. Sometimes, adjustments might be needed based on advice from your doctor or mind-body medicine practitioner, similar to dietary changes during treatment.

Generally, when used mindfully, these techniques can be safely combined with other forms of care for most people.

We teach mindfulness practices like meditation, mindful movement, and eating, along with whole-body nutrition. Additionally, we use guided imagery, biofeedback, and other techniques for managing pain, sleep, anxiety, and depression. These methods are not a replacement for medical care.

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These practices are supported by scientific evidence for mood disorders, anxiety, trauma, addiction, PTSD, metabolic issues, chronic pain, chemotherapy side effects, and recovery from life-changing conditions like cancer.

Mind-body medicine skills are valuable for anyone in recovery, regardless of the stage.

They expand our toolkit for early, middle, or long-term recovery, serving as life skills useful not only for recovery but also for managing stress and symptoms in daily life.

No, it's not a requirement. Addictions or substance use disorders, which we use interchangeably, range from healthy to harmful behavior. Some might have a diagnosed disorder, while others are simply seeking to improve their relationship with substances, behaviors, or other aspects of life.

Mind-body medicine-based recovery groups are designed to enhance and work alongside any other recovery treatments you're already receiving.

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They align well with various recovery programs like 12 steps, SMART Recovery, Dharma Recovery, and formal psychotherapies such as mindfulness-based relapse prevention, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, EMDR, Dialectic Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Medication-Assisted Treatment, and others.

Mind-body medicine-based recovery is suitable for anybody who seeks to understand themselves better, and who wants to develop or strengthen a personal program for health and Wellness.

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In mind-body medicine practices, both the skill itself and the environment where it's practiced are vital for its effectiveness.

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You might have experience with yoga, meditation, or visualization techniques, which have been around for centuries and scientifically proven beneficial, like mindfulness. What sets the MBM-R program apart is its systematic and holistic approach to using these skills, helping you understand yourself better and apply them to various aspects of health, wellness, or recovery.

Each skill is taught with a focus on what it is, why it's helpful, and how to practice it, either at your own pace or in a supportive group setting. We'll also discuss the evidence and any necessary precautions to ensure safe practice.

There's a distinction between mindfulness, meditation, and mindful living. We focus on living purposefully and mindfully, which leads to greater freedom and well-being.

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In the past 70 years, cognitive behavioral and mindfulness-based interventions have been developed with solid scientific backing. People are now actively seeking ways to help themselves rather than relying solely on traditional medical treatments. While this approach is helpful, it may not be enough for everyone. Some want to understand their conditions better, while others aim to avoid or manage side effects without relying on additional medications.

Mind-body medicine practices are increasingly integrated into existing recovery programs and practiced by counselors. What sets the mind-body medicine recovery program apart is its holistic framework, which allows for a deeper understanding of clients and oneself. We teach how to adapt these skills for different clinical populations based on over 20 years of experience working in various settings.

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Mind-body medicine is unique in that it emphasizes self-care alongside caring for others, reducing the risk of burnout and increasing professional satisfaction.

After reading the questions above and the description of our program on this website, if you still have additional questions feel free to reach us at so that we have a better understanding of your needs.

That's a great question! I regularly use the techniques we teach at MBM-R for three reasons. Firstly, I've personally experienced their benefits in my own life. Secondly, practicing MBM is essential for fully embracing its holistic approach in my daily life. And thirdly, teaching MBM techniques requires continuous use to understand their strengths and nuances, making firsthand experience the best preparation for teaching them. 

I've been using MBM techniques since childhood, and professionally for the past 30 years.

I've struggled with anxiety and mild depressive episodes, which are common in my family.

Despite years of psychoanalysis and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), I still felt a lingering sense of existential dread. Seeking further relief, I enrolled in a Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) course with Jon Kabat Zinn and Saki Santorelli in the early 2000s. This experience was transformative. I learned to separate my thoughts from my mind and to choose how to engage with my experiences.

I also discovered the power of compassion, kindness, and forgiveness in relieving my distress. Inspired, I pursued further training in MBSR and attended silent Vipassana retreats. As I integrated these practices into my life, I found profound relief and began using them with my patients, who also benefited greatly. Through ongoing learning and adaptation, I've tailored these techniques to suit the needs of individuals with various conditions.

We are presently do not take health insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid. However, we can give you documentation to submit to your insurance company which may reimburse some of your out of pocket expenses.

To find out if you are eligible for any type of reimbursement from insurance company, you will have to be discuss your benefits with them. To contact your insurance company, call the number in the back side of your health insurance card.